Polinaut: January 29, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 1-29-08

Posted at 8:52 AM on January 29, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Bridges lead the digest today.

The NTSB Chair takes a few steps back from his strong comments regarding the gusset plates. He says they have not determined a final cause to the bridge collapse. He made the comments in a letter to DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar. The Star Tribune, the AP, MPR and the Pi Press have stories.

There is a legislative hearing scheduled for today on the problems facing the Wakota Bridge.

The Star Tribune wonders whether insurers will go after financial awards to bridge victims.

State Government

Forum Communications says the Minnesota River Board is repeating its plea to Gov. Pawlenty and South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds to reconvene the Boundary Waters Commission.

DFL Sen. Mary Olson criticizes a DNR decision on docks.

Gov. Pawlenty will speak at a U of M open house for business leaders later this week.

The Pi Press says Minnesotans want a say over selecting judges.

Congress

AP has the reaction from Minnesota's Congressional delegation on President Bush's State of the Union.

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman tells the Washington Post that President Bush offered a "challenging speech."

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar characterized Bush's last speech as "an end but also a beginning" to the New York Times. She was one of several Democrats who took pleasure in knowing this was President Bush's last State of the Union.

The New York Times says Coleman is unlikely to step in front of the economic stimulus plan.

Senators are calling for a change for border id requirements. Coleman and Klobuchar are mentioned.

The Senate tables a bill dealing with the Kenya crisis. Coleman is mentioned.

The Albert Lea Tribune has a story on DFL Rep. Tim Walz's trip to the border.

MinnPost reports that Justice may be stonewalling in the investigation into Rachel Paulose. UPDATE. Apparently the L.A. Times broke this story.

2008 President

The campaign for John Edwards says he will chart a new path to the convention. He'll visit Minnesota tonight. The memo mentions his key Minnesota supporters.

The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) quotes an unnamed Clinton campaign official saying they may lose Minnesota but are looking to pick up a few delegates from certain congressional districts. Here's the exact copy:

Clinton campaign officials expect they may lose Colorado and Minnesota, but they have identified districts in each state where they might pick up extra delegates. Similarly, Mr. Obama doesn't expect to win California, but he is running ads in the San Francisco area hoping to pick up delegates in those congressional districts.

Buck Humphrey, Minnesota's Clinton Campaign director, says he hasn't heard those comments and doesn't feel like the national folks are backing off at all.

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle will campaign in Minnesota on behalf of Barack Obama today. Obama will hold an event in the Twin Cities this weekend. MPR, the Pi Press, KARE11 and the Star Tribune round out the coverage.

Janet Huckabee visited Minnesota yesterday and targeted Faith voters. The Star Tribune says Evangelicals form a coveted block for the GOP.

2008 Senate

MPR says the DFL candidates for U.S. Senate are working to get their core supporters to the caucuses.

Mike Ciresi will be on Midday today at 11.

Al Franken will visit Crookston on Thursday.

The candidates will also debate in International Falls on February 11th.

2008 Legislature

The Star Tribune has a story on a transgender candidate running for the Minnesota House.

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Ciresi on Midday

Posted at 9:24 AM on January 29, 2008 by Tom Scheck

DFL U.S. Senate hopeful Mike Ciresi will be on Midday at 11 this morning.

Edwards event

Posted at 10:01 AM on January 29, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Someone asked where tonight's John Edwards event will take place. Here are the details:

What: Special Event with John Edwards When: Tuesday, January 29, 7:00 p.m. Where: Carpenters Union Hall 710 Olive Street St. Paul, Minnesota

UPDATE: AP says Edwards has postponed his Fargo visit:

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards has postponed a campaign trip to Fargo.
Edwards was supposed to speak tomorrow morning at the Fargo Labor Temple. North Dakota and other states are holding presidential preference caucuses a week from today.
A statement from the Edwards campaign this morning says Edwards plans to travel to North Dakota later this week, and details will be announced later.
Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul has scheduled a campaign trip to Bismarck next Monday. Paul supporters say he'll be speaking at Bismarck State College.

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Presidential ads on cable

Posted at 1:22 PM on January 29, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

I stopped by the Comcast St. Paul offices to see which candidates were buying TV spots on cable and at what price. Barack Obama is running 88 spots between 1/24 through 2/4 at a cost of $20,900. His ads will run on Bravo, Comedy Central, MTV, Sci Fi, TBS and USA Network. No ads were bought on CNN, MSNBC or any other news channel. It's clear the campaign is targeting younger voters.

Ron Paul will run 92 spots between 1/28 and 2/4 at a cost of $14,900. His ads are split between CNN and Fox News.

No other presidential candidates bought time.

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McCain wins Florida, AP says Giuliani will back him

Posted at 9:06 PM on January 29, 2008 by Tom Scheck

John McCain was declared the winner of Florida. Mitt Romney came in second and Rudy Giuliani came in third. AP had this item on Giuliani:

MIAMI (AP) - Rudy Giuliani will endorse John McCain on Wednesday in California, indicating the former New York mayor's departure from the race is imminent, officials say.